K 7019 

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REVISED THIRD EDITION. FOURTH THOUSAND. 

PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS 


FOR 

ELECTRIC 


GasLighting^BellFitting 


FOR 

AMATEURS. 

BY EDWARD TREVER T 

\ -J I t\ ; -~ 1 ..Pfi 4r 1-< 

i llustraiTL ; 


PRICE, 25 CENTS. 

— 


1895. 

BUB1ER PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
Lynn, Mass. 




























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HEW REVISED THIRD EDITION. FOURTH THOUSAND. 


PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS 


ELECTRIC 


GasLighting^BellFitting 


AMATEUR 


, BY EDWARD TREVERT. 



' y* ■ V : 


ILLUSTRATED. x 


1895 . 

BUBIER PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
Lyj*n, Mass. 



















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o' 1 ' 


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$ 


COPYRIGHTED BY 

BUBIER PUBLISHING COMPANY 

1 892. 


COPYRIGHTED BY 

BUBIER PUBLISHING COMPANY 

1 8S5. 







PREFACE. 


This little book was issued on account of a call for a small 
low-priced work upon this subject. It is not designed for 
the expert bell-fitter, but for the amateur, who wishes to 
put up his own bells and fix his own gas lighting apparatus. 
Hoping that it may fulfil its mission is the wish of the 
author, 

EDWARD TREVERT. 

Lynn, Mass., September 15, 1892. 


PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. 


In this edition a greater part of the book has been 
re-written, and new diagrams added which I trust will 
make it of more value to the reader. 

EDWARD TREVERT. 

March 30, 1895. 







BUBIER’S 

Popular Electrician. 

A SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY 

For the Amateur and Public at Large. 

Containing descriptions of all the new inventions as fast as 
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Price, Postpaid, $1.00 a Year. 
Sample Copy, Ten Cents. 

Jg@rSend for It. You will be More than Pleased. 


Bubier Publishing Co, Lynn, Mass. 








CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER T. 

Electric Batteries, 


CHAPTER II. 

Electric Bell-Fitting, 

CHAPTER III. 

Electric Gas-Lighting, 


PAGES 
7—21 


22—44 

45—62 


/ 



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Everybody’s Hand Book of Electricity, Paper edition, 25c. .50 

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Electric Railway Engineering, ...... 2.00 

Electricity and its Recent Applications, .... 2.00 

A Practical Treatise on Electro Plating, .... .50 

How to make and Use Induction Coils, .... .50 

Practical Directions for Electric Gas Lighting and Bell Fit¬ 
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PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS 

FOR ELECTRIC 

GAS-LIGHTING AND BELL-FITTING 

FOR AMATEURS. 


CHAPTER I. 

ELECTRIC BATTERIES. 

Voltaic Cell .—The simplest electric battery made 
is the Voltaic, Cell. This is made by placing in 
a glass jar some water having a little sulphuric 
acid or any other oxidizing acid added to it. 
Then place in it separately two clean strips, one 
olj zinc, Z, and one of copper, C. This cell is 
capable of supplying a continuous flow of elec¬ 
tricity through a wire whose ends are brought into 
connection with the two strips. When the current 
flows the zinc strip is observed to waste away; 
its consumption in fact furnishes the energy re¬ 
quired to drive the current through the cell and 



8 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


the connecting wire. The cell may, therefore, be 
regarded as a sort of chemical furnace in which 
the fuel is zinc. Before the strips are connected 
by a wire no appreciable difference of potential 
between the copper and the zinc will be observed 
by an electrometer; because the electrometer only 



VOLTAIC CELL 


measures the potential at a point in the air or oxi¬ 
dizing medium outside the zinc or the copper, not 
the potentials of the metals themselves. The zinc 
itself is at about 1.86 volts lower potential than the 
surrounding oxidizing media; while the copper is 
at only about .81 volts lower, having a less tenden¬ 
cy to become oxidized. There is then a latent 







BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


9 


difference of potential of about 1.05 volts between 
the copper and the zinc; but this produces no 
current as long as there is no metallic contact. 
If the strips are made to touch, or are joined by 
a pair of metal wires, immediately there is a 
rush of electricity through the metal from the 
copper to the zinc, and a small portion of the 
zinc is at the same time dissolved away.; the 
zinc parting with its latent energy as its atoms 
combine with the acid. This energy is expend¬ 
ed in forcing a discharge of electricity through the 
acid to the copper strip, and thence through the 
wire circuit back to the zinc strip. The copper 
strip, whence the current starts on its journey 
through -the external circuit, is called the positive 
pole, and the zinc strip is called the negative pole. 

Electric batteries may be classified according to 
their use into open circuit and closed circuit 
batteries. An open circuit battery is a battery 
which is used when a current is needed for a few 
seconds at a time. If the circuit is kept closed 
too long the battery will become polarized, that 
is, hydrogen will collect on the carbon and prevent 
the current passing through the circuit. If, how- 


10 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


ever, the circuit is opened, the battery will re¬ 
cover itself in time. These batteries are designed 
for bells, telephones, gas lighters, etc. To this 
class belong the Leclanche, Samson and Law. 

Closed circuit batteries are used for continuous 
work, as for electric lighting, electroplating, fire 
alarms, etc. To this class belong Grenet, Gravity, 
Gove, Bunsen and Fuller batteries. 

The Leclanche Battery .—In this cell the excit¬ 
ing liquid is a solution of sal-ammoniac. In this 
the zinc dissolves, while ammonia, gas and hy¬ 
drogen are liberated at the carbon pole. 

To prevent polarization in the disque form, the 
carbon plate is packed inside a porous cell with 
fragments of carbon and powdered binoxide of 
manganese, which slowly yields oxygen and de¬ 
stroys the hydrogen bubbles. In the prism form 
the binoxide of manganese is applied in plaques 
or prisms, thus avoiding the necessity of using a 
porous cell. 

The Leclanche cell will give a continuous cur¬ 
rent only for a short time, the power falling off 
owing to the accumulation of hydrogen bubbles; 
if the circuit is left open for a time the cell re- 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


II 


covers itself, the binoxide gradually destroying the 
polarization. The cell is in other respects per¬ 
fectly constant, very clean, and as it does not 
require renewing for months or years, when 
dosed only for a few seconds a time, it is 



LECLANCHE BATTERY. 


well adapted for working electric bells, annunci¬ 
ators, burglar alarms, and for other domestic 
purposes. This battery is set up in the follow¬ 
ing manner: 

Put six ounces of sal ammoniac into a glass 
jar, fill one-third full of water, and stir. Put in 
the porous cell and fill with water to the neck 






12 


electric gas-lighting and 


of the jar, pouring a little water into the hole 
in the porous cup. Put in the zinc and connect 
the battery. 

The inside of the rim of the jar is paraffined, 
and should be. kept greased to keep the salts 
from creeping. The battery should be kept in a 
dry place of medium temperature. It requires very 
little attention; water should be poured in occa¬ 
sionally to supply the loss by evaporation. In 
case the solution becomes milky, and the battery 
fails to work, the solution should be thrown out 
and fresh sal-ammoniac and water put in. If 
this does not restore the battery, soak the porous 
cells in warm water. If it still fails, new porous 
cells must be used. 

Law Battery .—The jar is of flint glass, four 
and a quarter, inches square and seven inches 
high. The lid is of hard rubber, composition and 
has three lugs on its flange, which engage with 
three on the inside of the mouth of the jar, 
thereby locking the lid down hard against a soft 
rubber washer. The negative element is a double 
cylinder of pure carbon, weighing about twenty 
ounces, and having a very large surface—about 



BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS 


*3 




LAW BATTERY 



































































































































14 ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 

147 square inches. The positive element is a 
rolled rod of zinc; the excitant, 2^ pints of sal- 
ammoniac solution. A carbon button specially 
prepared is interposed between the negative ele¬ 
ment and its metal binding post to protect the 
latter from corrosion—a fruitful source of trouble 
in other batteries of this class. The very large 
quantity and surface of the negative element, (be¬ 
ing three or four times the usual quantity and 
surface in batteries of this class) and the large 
quantity of solution (about double that ordinari¬ 
ly used) give the battery a very low resistance 
and very great holding up power under hard or ex¬ 
cessive use. Its E. M. F* is about 1.5 volts, in¬ 
ternal resistance .5 of an ohm. 

The Samson Battery —This battery in France, 
wheie first manufactured, is the leading open- 
ciicuit battery. This battery is not only presented 
because of'its great efficiency in call bell, annun¬ 
ciator, burglar alarm and gas-lighting work, but 
it is also especially adapted to telephone service 
on account of its remarkable endurance and long 
life. The essential characteristics of the Samson 
battery are its fluted carbon porous cup and cylin- 




BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 15 

drical zinc. The former is imported direct from 
the Paris manufacturer, in order to insure the per- • 
fection of quality which he has reached by years 
of practical experiment. 

The carbon cup is corrugated to present a much 



SAMSON BATTERY. 

larger surface to the action of the solution; is 
porous to render the flow of the solution into 
the cup unresisted; is filled with a depolarizing 
material, to add to the battery durability and 
recuperative power. The zinc is of the best 
quality, well amalgamated, presents to the solution 






































It:) ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 

an unusually large surface, and nearly surrounds 
the carbon cup, thus reducing the internal resist¬ 
ance of the battery to almost nothing. 

The neck of the jar has a choke which sup¬ 
ports a rubber cover, to prevent evaporation, closely 
fitting the corrugated carbon, which it holds safely 
apart from the zinc. In this cell the exciting 
liquid is a solution of sal-ammoniac. 

Gravity Batteries are two fluid cells. The one 
shown in the engraving is the Crowfoot Battery. 
Instead of employing a porous cell to keep the 
two liquids separate, it is possible, where one of 
the liquids is heavier than the other to keep the 
latter on the bottom, and have the lighter floating 
upon it, this separation, however, is never per¬ 
fect, the heavy liquid slowly diffusing upward. 
To set up this battery proceed as follows. 

Open out the copper so as to present all of 
its suiface to the action of the solution, place it 
in the bottom of the jar, run the insulated wire 
out of the top of the jar for connecting up. Sus¬ 
pend the zinc above the copper by hanging the 
hooked -neck on the rim of the glass. Pour clean 
soft water into the jar until it covers the zinc, then ■ 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


drop in six or eight ounces of copper sulphate 
(blue vitriol) in small crystals. 

Connect the battery (for ordinary purposes) zinc 
of one cell to copper of the next, and so on, 
and connect the two electrodes of the series and 
let them so remain for a few hours, until the sepa- 



CROWFOOT BATTERY. 

ration of the two solutions, which will be known 
by the^Jblue observed in bottom of copper solution. 
This “blue line” should be maintained midway 
between the zinc and copper; when it is too low, 
drop in a few crystals of copper sulphate; when 
too high, connect the battery in short circuit as 
before described until it goes down. 

While the battery remains in action there is an 


2 


1 8 ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 

increase in quantity of zinc sulphate solution in 
the upper part of the jar. When zinc oxide forms 
on the surfaces of the zinc, it must be taken out 
and washed in clean water with a brush. 

JVew York Carbon Cylinder Battery .—This is 
one of the best of its kind in the market. It 



NEW YORK CARBON CYLINDER BATTERY. 

has a carbon cylinder instead of a porous cup, 
and may be used in any Disque-Leclanche jar. 
The exciting fluid is a solution of Sal-Ammoniac 


































belL-fitting for amateurs. 


T 9 


and water, and it is set up the same as any 
Leclanche Battery. 

Dry Batteries .—It is often necessary to arrange 
batteries so that they may stand considerable jar¬ 
ring, or even overturning, when a liquid would 
be spilled. Therefore came the invention of the 
dry battery. Of this type the Standard dry bat¬ 
tery is one of the leading batteries of the present 
time. It is introduced by J. H. Bunnell & Co., of 
New York. The battery shown in the cut is made 
by filling in the space between a hollow carbon cyl¬ 
inder and a metal plate, which faces both external 
and internal surfaces of the cylinder, with the 
chemica|s in a dry, or rather a pasty form. The 
whole is then sealed tight into the covering and is 
ready for use. Neither of the elements is con¬ 
sumed during action, but the chemicals are decom¬ 
posed. It is, therefore, free from the effects of 
polarization during the greater portion of its life, 
and can be restored again when exhausted by pass¬ 
ing a current from its positive to its negative pole, 
being thus, in a certain sense, a storage battery. 
Its E. M. F. is about two volts, and it will give a 



20 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


current of from 6 to io amperes, as its internal re¬ 
sistance is very low. 



STANDARD DRY BATTERY. 

The American Flag Dry Battery , is now being 
introduced by Thompson-Brown Electric Co., of 



























































BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


21 


Boston. Its E. M. F. is 1.8 volts, gives io to 35 
amperes, depending on the size battery, and has 
an internal resistance of .08 ohms. One of the 



THE AMERICAN FLAG DRY BATTERIES. 

claims for this battery is that it has great recup¬ 
erative power and that it works well in all cli¬ 
mates. 































22 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 



CHAPTER IX. 

ELECT ric bell-fitting. 

Electric Bells .—The common form of electric 
bell or trembler consists of an electro-magnet, 
which moves a hammer backward and forward 
by alternately attracting and releasing it, so that 
it beats against a gohg. The arrangements of the 
instrument are shown in the diagram, in which 
E is the electromagnet and H the hammer. A 
battery, consisting of one Samson cell, and 
placed at some convenient point of the circuit, 
provides a current when required. By touching 
the “push” P the circuit is completed, and a cur¬ 
rent flows along the line and round the coils of 
of the electromagnet, which forthwith attracts a 
small piece of soft iron attached to the lever, 
which terminates in the hammer H. The lever 
is itself included in the circuit, the current enter¬ 
ing it above and quitting it at C by a contact 
breaker consisting of a spring tipped with plati- 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


2 3 


num resting against the platinum tip of a screw, 
from which a return wire passes back to the zinc 
pole of the battery. As soon as the lever is 
attracted forward, the circuit is broken at C by 
a spring moving away from contact with the screw; 
hence the current stops, and the electromagnet ceases 



to attract the armature. The lever and hammer 
therefore fall back, again establishing contact at 
C, whereupon the hammer is once more attracted 
forward, and so on. The push P is shown in sec¬ 
tion in the center. It usually consists of a cylin¬ 
drical knob of ivory or porcelain, capable of moving 


























































24 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


loosely through a hole in a circular support of 
porcelain or wood, and which, when pressed, 
forces a platinum-tipped spring against a metal 
pin, and so makes electrical contact between the 
two parts of the interrupted Circuit. 

The Star Electro-Mechanical Gong. — The 
Star Gong is designed for use on railroads, in' 
fire department y stations, factories, engine-rooms, 
school-hpuses, etc., where unerring alarms are., 
requisite!. 'The mechanism is simple, and its 
operation accurate. The release, controlled by 
the eleitro-magnet, is provided with an attach¬ 
ment which holds the hammer in position, except 
at the instant the current ceases, thus preventing 
more than one stroke for each pressure of the ; 
key. The hammer thus released falls into posi¬ 
tion for the blow, releases a stop lever, and sets 
in motion a spring mechanism geared to a five- 
pointed star, one point of which forces the hammer 
to strike the blow. The hammer itself is faced 
with lignum vitae, to render the alarm more 
agreeable to the ear. One winding of the spring 
(not clockwork) will serve 300 blows upon the 
gong. 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS 


25 



The magnets may be wound to any desired 
resistance to suit the requirements of any circuit. 


STAR ELECTRO-MECHANICAL GONG. 

The large sized gongs are fitted to order for use 
on reversal circuits. Continuous ringing^ attach¬ 
ments may be fitted to the gongs. The instrument 























26 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


is weather proof, provided with lightning anestei, 
and mounted in handsomely finished black walnut 
or ash cases, with plate glass fronts. 

The Holtzer- Cabot'Iron- Case Gong .—This gong 



HOLTZER-CABOT IRON-CASE GONG 






























BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


27 


gives a powerful blow, and but little battery power 
is required. Can be wound to any resistance and 
the magnets may be made adjustable to the arm¬ 
ature when used for fire alarm circuits. It will 
strike from three hundred to four hundred blows 
at one winding or can be changed to continuous 
ringing by the removal of one escapement pin. 

The Victor Wooden Box Bell .—Its superiority 
consists in a soft iron bed-plate, to protect the 



VICTOR BELL 

adjustment from warping of the base-board; a 
double adjustment of the tension of spring as 
well as length of stroke; a novel and convenient 














































28 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


clasping device for fastening the box to the base¬ 
board; platinum contact points and gongs of 
superior tone. The magnets of tne 2J, 3 and 
3J inch bells are wound to three ohms resistance, 
and the gongs, binding posts, armature and ham¬ 
mer are all nickel plated. Finished in black 
walnut, plain and stained cherry, oak and ash 
boxes. 

The Bunnell Double Action Power Vibrating 
Gong. — A loud ringing bell for railroad signals, 
or any place where an extra loud alarm is desii- 
able. The action in this bell differs from all 
other forms in the following respects : No springs 
are used. The hammer is withdrawn after its 
forward stroke by an extra pair of magnets with 
the full power of the current, so as to give a 
strong rebound to start and assist the forward 
stroke, which is then made with the added full 
force of the current by a separate pair of magnets. 
The hammer moves twice as far and is about 
three times as heavy as in the old forms. It does 
not have to overcome the force of any spring in 
its forward stroke, but is helped instead by a 
powerful recoil from the backward movement. 



BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


2 9 


The result is that with an equal amount of bat¬ 
tery the power of the actual blow delivered on 



BUNNELL DOUBLE ACTION POWER VIBRATING GONG. 

the gong is fully trebled as compared with the old 
method. A number of them can be connected in 
series and will work as perfectly as a single one. 

The “ Boss” Electric Buzzer is designed for 
stores, offices, banks, etc., and is used to summon 
clerks or employes from their desks without 






















3 ° 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


attracting general attention to the call. The j 
armature is pivoted to the base of an upright soft 



BOSS ELECTRIC BUZZER. 


iron shield, from the top of which the magnet is 
firmly suspended. The armature, being pivoted 
to the shield, vibrates between the magnet and 
wooden base and is regulated by an adjusting 
screw underneath. It works free and easy on 
one cell of battery, occupies very little space, has 
binding posts on the outer edge of the base, is 
thoroughly constructed and attached to highly 
polished mahogany, black walnut, cherry or ash 
bases, while the mechanism is covered with a 
nickel-plated or polished brass shell. 













BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 31 

Door Bell Pull Attachments .—Designed for 
connecting a mechanical door bell pull so that it 



DOOR BELL PULL ATTACHMENT. 


will ring both an electric bell and a jingle bell 
at the same time. This attachment may be con¬ 
nected without disturbing the mechanical bell pull 
which may be already in use. 

Improved Nickel-Plated Floor Push .—The push 
is removable and has a shoulder to prevent the 



FLOOR PUSH. 














3 2 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 




ELECTRIC DOOR-KNOB PULL. 







insulated body being pushed out in case it is 
stepped on. There is a hole clear through the 



































BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


33 


body of the push, thus providing an escape for dust. 

Electric Door Knob Pull .—With this door pull 
the electric circuit is made by the metallic shoe 
at end of pull which rubs against the spring under¬ 
neath when the knob is pulled. The electric current 
passing through the shoe and spring rings the bell. 

Burglar Alarms .—These consist of an Electric 
Bell being rung, and in connection with an annun¬ 
ciator operated from windows, doors, or from elec¬ 
tric matting placed under the carpets, the hallways, 
stairs, or any part of the house. If a window or 
a door is opened the bell rings and the annunci¬ 
ator indicates in which part of the house it 
occurs. . Should anybody step upon the floor or 
stairs in any part of the house where the matt¬ 
ing is placed, the burglar alarm shows at once 
where the danger is. 

Figure i shows a door spring. If the door is 

open, electric contact is made through this spring 
and the bell rings. These alarms may or may 
not be fitted with a constant ringing attachment, 

as one may desire. 

Figure 2 shows a single window spring. 

Figure 3 shows a double window spring. 


3 




34 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


/ 



FIGURE 2. 


With single springs, two are needed for each 
window, one for the upper and one for the lower 
sash; with the double spring only one is needed. 

Figure 4 shows a plan for wiring a house fitted 
with a four-number annunciator burglar alarm. 

Figure 5 shows the arrangement of a single bat- 



















































BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


35 




FIGURE 5. 
































































































3 6 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


tery supplying several bells, operated separately by 
different buttons, the bells being connected in mul¬ 
tiple. 



Figure 6 represents a battery B, acting on a 
bell operated by three different buttons^ i, 2, 3. 



figure 7. 


Figure 7 shows diagram of wiring for three 
bells in series operated by one button. I 

Figure 8 shows bell with return circuit through 

























































BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


37 


earth. In this case only one 
The ground can be made by 


wire is necessary, 
connecting one wire 



E 


FIGURE 8. 

at each end of the circuit to a gas pipe and 















































38 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


water pipe, if they have good ground connections. 
Used for short line only. 



connected in series and operated by one button. 



Figure io shows bell and battery connected in 
multiple and operated by seven different buttons. 




































BEEL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


39 


Figure u shows a return call circuit in which 
push A operates bell B, and push B operates bell 
A. Three wires are necessary. 



Figure 12 shows plan for short lines only. Each 
push will ring both bells. Only one wire is nec- 



FTGURE T3. 




























































4° 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


essary, the ground being used for the return circuit. 

Figure 13 shows the best plan for a return 
call system. This system of wiring is used for 
long distance and has the advantage of employ¬ 
ing only one wire, the ground being used for 
the return circuit. This saves the expense of the 
the return wire. Two separate batteries are em- 



figure 14. 

ployed, one at each end of the line, the number 
of calls required depending on the length of the 
line. The bells used for this plan should have 
a resistance, of twenty ohms or over. The cir¬ 
cuit is closed through binding posts 1 .and 2, 
except when the button is pushed, then it goes 
through 2 and 3. 









































BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


4 1 


Figure 14 shows diagram for wiring a house 
where an annunciator is used. In this case a 
four-drop annunciator is used to indicate calls from 
four different parts of the house. There is also 



a call bell placed in the stable run by the push 
5, located in the dining room. 

Figure 15 shows Partrick & Carter Company’s 
return call annunciator and fire alarm system. 
Two leading wires and one battery wire are used. 











42 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


1, 2, 3, 4, 5, are combination bells. A, A, A, A, A, 
represent washers on top of annunciators to connect 
wires, W, from push-button. C, C, C, C, C, are 
the connections on bottom to connect return call 
wires, X, X, X, X, X. AB is the battery. B, 



battery wires. The fire alarm may be sounded 
on all the bells at one time, or on each bell sep¬ 
arately. 

Figure 16 shows Partrick and Carter’s return call 
system, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, are the combination bells in 
rooms. A is the annunciator. In this system the 









BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


43 


large binding post Z, must be connected to the 
zinc element or pole of the battery, and the 
small post C, to the carbon element. 

Annunciators .—The annunciator is an appara¬ 
tus made to indicate in what part of the build¬ 
ing or from what point a call or an alarm is 



DROP ANNUNCIATOR. 


given. It may be operated by a switch thermo¬ 
stat, or push button. There are several styles, 
among which are the needle and the drop. 

With the drop annunciator, where the push¬ 
button is pressed, and the circuit closed, the drop 
connected to this particular circuit falls, recording 









44 


ELECTRIC BELL-FITTING AND 


either, by number or name the point from which 
the bell is rung. This bell is connected in the 
return circuit leading to the battery, and rings at 
the same time that the drop falls. 

With the needle annunciator, the needle moves 
from its normal position when a circuit is closed, 
and points to the number or name of place, the 
bell ringing as above. To put the needles or 
drops back into their normal position a lever at 
the bottom of the annunciator box is moved, 
which pushes the needles or drops back into place. 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


45 


CHAPTER III. 

ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTING. 

The battery to be used is some form of open 
circuit, preferably the Samson, Leclanche, Disque 
or New York carbon battery. Place the battery, 
consisting of four c* six cells, according to size 
of house or number of burners to be used, in 
the cellar or lower hallway, taking care to select 
a place of uniformly cool temperature. The place 
selected should not be too dry, for a dry atmos¬ 
phere tends to evaporate the fluids too rapidly; 
nor very damp, as too much moisture interferes 
with the action of the battery. 

To connect the battery .—Connect the zinc of 
one cell with No. 16 or 18 wire to the nearest 
gas pipe on the house side of the gas meter. To 
make contact with the gas pipe perfect, file a 
bright surface on it and wind the bared copper 
wire around it several times. After the cells have 
been joined together, carbon of one to zinc of 
next, run a wire from the last carbon through 


4 6 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


the one point switch, located near the battery, to 
the spark coil; then from the spark coil make 
connection to the bunch of wires which lead to 
the various rooms of the house. 

To Detect a Ground .—Disconnect the battery 
wire from the bunch of wires in the cellar and 
touch each house wire with it separately. The 
grounded wire will be detected by a spark and 
should then be left out of the j bunch of wires, 
which may now be connected with the battery 
wire again. The fixtures to which the grounded 
wire runs should be carefully examined, as the 
trouble is most likely to be in the fixture wiring 
or where the connection is made back of the wall 
plate. If, however, the trouble is between the 
fixture and the cellar, a new wire should be run. 
After the trouble is removed, connect the wire 
with the bunch of wires as before. 

For Automatic Burners , run wires from the 
cellar (where connection is made to battery wire) 
to the centre brass strips on the rear of the key, 
or press button plate. Run wires from the other 
points of the press-button plate to the automatic 
burner, which is to be governed from that point, 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


47 


and connect the wire from the black press but¬ 
ton to electro-magnet which shuts off, and wire from 
white press-button to that which turns on the 
gas. The circuit for lighting is made from bat¬ 
tery, through switch, spark-coil, wire, brass, strip 



BOSTON RACKET BURNER. 

on press button plate, by pressing the white but¬ 
ton through the electro-magnet which turns on the 
gas; wire at the tip of burner, (by the union and 
parting of these wires the igniting spark is made) 













4 8 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


thence to the gas pipe, and back to battery. For 
shutting off, the same circuit is made, except that 
by pressing the black button, the circuit is closed 
through the other electro magnet in the automatic, 
thus shutting of!' the gas. 

The Boston Racket Burner. The first pull of 
the chain turns on the gas through a four-way 
gas cock governed by a rachet wheel and pawl. 



THUMB-COCK BUKNTR. 


The issuing gas is lighted by a wipe-spark at the tip 
of the burner. Alternate pulls shut; off the gas. 

The Thumb Cock Burner , here shown has an 
attachment upon the small end of . the gas-cock, 
located in the base of the burner, consisting of a 
vibrating arm with an elongated hole, tripping pin 
and cam. By the opening movement of the gas- 
cock, the vibrating arm, with its elastic contact 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


49 


point, is forced against and past the fixed electrode, 
tripped and returned by means of the retractile 
spring, leaving the gas turned on and lighted,— 
a quarter turn of the thumb-cock backward ex- 



VOLUNTEER PENDENT BURNER. 


tinguishes the gas. The operation is such that 
short-circuiting at the electrodes is next to impos¬ 
sible. 

Volunteer Pendent Burner .—The first pull 
turns on and ignites the gas, and holds the arm 







ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


5 ° 

in the slot; the second pull releases the arm and 
extinguishes the gas. From the position of the 
arm it can be readily ascertained whether the gas 
is on or off. 



NEW ERA BURNER. 


New Era Burner .—One twist of the stem turns 
on and lights the gas. Stems are made inter¬ 
changeable and a longer or shorter key can be 
applied without removing the burner from the 
fixture. 







BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


5 1 


Automatic Burners .—With these burners elec¬ 
tricity not only lights the gas but turns it on or 
off as anybody may desire, simply by pressing a 



THE HOLTZER AUTOMATIC BURNER. 

push button located near or distant to the burn¬ 
er. The burner is constructed so that by a pair 
or two pair of electro-magnets governing one or 
two armatures, a lever is made to operate a gas-cock. 






52 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHT IMG, AND 




The Holtzer Automatic Burner .—This burner 
possesses the advantage over other forms in that 
the gas is turned on gradually and is ignited at 
the first opening of the valve, the flame gradually 
increasing to full si2e. The spark is made simul¬ 
taneously with the opening of the valve, which 
insures safety and absolute protection against leak¬ 



age. This burner has two pair of electro-mag¬ 
nets which operate two armatures. One opens 
the valve and turns on the gas, the other closes 
it and turns it off. 

Figure 17 shows gas lighting circuit, for pend¬ 
ant and automatic burners. 

Sectional Switch Cut-Out. — For lighting gas- 















BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS 


53 



SECTIONAL SWITCH CUT-OUT 































































































































































































































































































54 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


circuits. This instrument consists of a spark coil, 
relay and switches arranged in a neat wood case. 
Each separate circuit is wired to its respective 
switch arm. In case a short circuit takes place 
from any cause whatever, the relay is closed, and 
a bell, which may be conveniently located, is rung. 

The switch which stops this alarm bell, when 
turned off indicates the circuit in which the trouble 
is located. The other switches may be replaced 
and the other light used until the trouble is 
remedied. 

Figure 18 shows plan for wiring a house for 
electric gas lighting. 

1. Battery on shelf. 

2. Spark-coil. 

3. Galvanometer. 

4. Switch-board with individual switches. 

5. Gas-meter. 

6. Connection of wire from battery with gas pipe 
on house side of meter. 

7. Gas-pipe. 

8. Automatic in room S. 

9. Press button or key plate for lighting No. 8. 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


55 



FIGURE l8. 































































































































56 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


io-ii. Press button for key plate Automatic 
No. 12. 

13. Pendant chain of band-lighter. 

15. Loop for passing wire around joint in fixtuie. 

16. Switch for first floor. 

17. Switch for second floor. 

18. Switch for third floor. 

19. Gimlet, showing direction of holes for running 
wires out of sight. 

20. Beams, with wires run through them. 

21. Showing manner of carrying wire around 
corner of room below, bringing it through the 
hole and then dropping it back into position. 

22. Part of Automatic, with electro-magnet, 
showing the shut-off. 

23. The same, showing the turning on and 
lighting. 

24. Showing how to run wire between gas-pipe 
and fancy covering of fixture. 

25. Four press-button plate, lighting Nos. 26 
and 27. 

Running Wire in Damp Places .—Extra care 
should be taken in running wires through damp 
places. For walls and other equally bad sections, 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 

rubber covered wire is good. Where tacks are 
used, the wire should be covered with rubber 
tape. Steam or hot water pipes should never be 
crossed, except that extra care be taken that the 
wires do not come in contact with them, as the 
heat melts the paraffin on the covering of the 
wire and destroys the insulation, often. causing a 
ground. 

Hints for Running Wires out of Sight .—From 
key or press-button plate on the wall to the. 
floor. Punch a hole through the plastering at 
the required position, being careful that there is 
no studding at that place. Use a brad-awl, and 
cut the hole large enough to set in the press- 
button plate. With a few inches of small brass 
spring wire, push through the opening a few 
inches of No. 19 double jack-chain, such as is 
used for general fishing purposes, first having con¬ 
nected the end of the chain with a piece of heavy 
linen thread. Run out the thread until the chain 
touches the floor beneath (between the laths and 
the outside wall) ; move the thread and locate the 
chain by sound. Bore a hole through the base¬ 
board or floor, as the case may be, towards the 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


58 

chain. Use a two or three-foot German twist 
gimlet. With a small brass spring wire, bent at 
the end in the shape of a hook, fish for the 
chain and draw it out. At the other end ol the 
thread attach the wire and draw it through with 
the thread. Passing under the floor, bore a second 
hole through the floor as near the other as pos¬ 
sible. Run into this a piece of snake or fishing 
wire (which is xJ ? inch steel wire, with a hook 
at the end), until it comes to an obstruction. 
Locate the obstruction by sound. In running 
wires under the flooring, first carefully examine 
all parts and find the direction in which the 
beams and timbers run, and run wires parallel 
with these. After locating the end of the fishing 
wire, see if the obstruction be a timber; if so, 
find the center and bore from the middle diag¬ 
onally through it in direction of the fishing wire. 
Drop a jack-chain and thread through the hole; 
fish for it and draw it through hole No. 2, at¬ 
tach the insulated wire and draw it back. Starting 
at hole No. 3, bore hole No. 4 diagonally through 
the timber in the direction in which the wire is 
to be run, making holes Nos. 3 and 4 form an 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 


59 


inverted V through the timber. Run the fi&hing 
wire through hole No. 4, until it meets an ob¬ 
struction. If at the end of the room, bore 
through the floor, drop chain, fish it out, attach 
wire, and draw it home. Putty up holes after 
having done with them; or in case of hard 
finish, plug them up with wood. In lightly 
built houses it is often found easier to take off 
the moulding above the base-board and run the 
wire under it. In such cases care should be taken 
to break off the old nails, as any attempt to 
drive them out would cause a bad break. In 
closets and around chimneys it is usually found 
easy to work. A mouse or lead weight attached 
to a string may often be dropped from the attic 
to the cellar ceiling through the space outside 
the chimney. It is well before starting on a job 
to carefully examine the whole house, and find 
the easiest places to run in. When necessary to 
take up carpets, be sure to put them down again 
as quickly as possible, in order to reduce to a 
minimum the inconvenience to residents. 


6o 


ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AND 


WIRING FIXTURES. 

Where it is possible to run the wire between 
the gas pipe and the outer shell, run it. above if 
the fixtures be overhead; below if the fixtures be 
low down, and bind the wire close to the fixture 
with fine thread, being sure that the sharp cor¬ 
ners will not cut through the insulation and 
eventually cause a ground. Shellac the wire to 
the pipe, and when hard, remove the thread. 
At the joints or hinges connect the nearest <set 
points by means of a wire loop of sufficient size 
to in no way interfere with the action of the 
fixture, and wind the insulated wire around this 
loop in the form of a spiral. Great care should 
be taken that perfect insulation be. obtained, apd 
in all such parts the wires should be covered 
with rubber tape. In running wire between the 
gas pipe and the outside shell, the same care 
should be exercised against grounding.. , To pass 
the rings and other sections where there is not 
sufficient space, bore through with a small mon¬ 
key-drill, or punch a hole with a brad-awl, or 
file off sufficient metal to allow an exit ; if nec¬ 
essary, run the wire through and over the ob- 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 6 1 

struction. Rubber tape must be used wherever 
the wire passes near the metal of the fixture or 
is liable to touch it. 

The best time to wire a house is when the 
builders have finished boarding in and have not 
yet commenced lathing. The cost of wiring at 
that time is very much less, sometimes not more 
than one-half as much as in the finished structure. 
In houses already occupied, the inconvenience 
caused by putting in wires is slight. Little or no 
dirt may be made; there need be no hammering 
and pulling away plastering, lathes and floors. 
The most expensive finishing should in no way 
be injured by the workmen. When the job is 
complete and well done, it will be difficult to 
discover evidence of the work having' been done. 

TOOLS AND MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR WIRING A 
HOUSE. 

Rubber Tape, for winding wire where tacks 
are driven for holding wire overhead—to insure 
perfect insulation, and prevent breaking through 
because of sharp edges. 

Tags , for numbering wires at the battery. 


62 ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING AN® 

Double-pointed Tacks for holding up wire. 
Use as few as possible. 

Brass Spring Wire. A few inches for push¬ 
ing chain through holes. 

Steel Spring or Snake Wire , for fishing pur¬ 
poses. Fifty feet is sufficient. 

No, 19 Double Jack Chain. A small amount 
for dropping purposes. 

Common Brad Awls , for punching holes through 
walls, etc. 

German Twist Gimlets , two and three feet 
long, i or pz inch for boring purposes. 

Rat-tail File , for filing holes through fixtures 
and other metal. 

Monkey Drill , for drilling through metals. 

Wire. No. 16 or 18 braided wire is heavy 
enough, if it is well insulated. Great care should 
be taken in examining the wire to see that it is 
thoroughly insulated, as more depends upon this 
than any other feature of the job. The larger 
the wire the less the resistance. 


BELL-FITTING FOR AMATEURS. 63 

INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Alarms,' Burglar. 33-35 

American Flag Dry Battery. 20-21 

Annunciators. 43-44 

Battery, Leclanche. 10-12 

“ Simple. 7-9 

Samson. 14 16 

Gravity. 16-18 

“ Law. 12-14 

“ New York Carbon Cylinder. 18-19 

Bunnell Standard Dry. 19-20 

American Flag Dry. 20-21 

Batteries, Dry. 19-21 

To Use for Gas Lighting. 45-46 

Electric. 7-21 

Bell, Electric, Common Form. 22-24 

“ Fitting. 22-44 

“ The Victor Wooden Box. 27-28 

“ The'Bunnell Double Action Power Vibrating. 28-29 

“ The Star Mechanical. 24-26 

“ The Holtzer Cabot Iron Case. 26-27 

“ Circuits, Wiring for. 34-43 

“ Pull Attachments. 31 

Burglar Alarms. 33-35 

Burner, Boston Rachet. 47-48 

Automatic, the Holtzer. 51-55 

“ “ How to Run Wires for. 46-48 

“ Volunteer Pendent. 49-50 

“ Thumb Cocks. 48-49 

“ New Era. 50 

Burners, Wiring for. 52-61 

Buzzer, Boss Electric. 30 

Cell, Voltaic. 7-9 

Circuits, Wiring for Bell. 34-43 

“ “ “ Gas Lighting. 52, 54-56 

Contents, Table of. 5 

Crowfoot Battery. 16-18 

Cut Out, Sectional Switch. 52-54 

Diagrams for Wiring Bells. 22, 23, 35-42 

“ “ “ Automatic and Pendent Burners.... 52 

<• “ “ a House for Electric Gas Lighting... 54-56 











































Door Springs. 

“ Bell Pull Attachments. 

“ Knob Pull. 

Dry Batteries. 

Electric Batteries. 

“ Bells. 

“ Bell Fitting. 

“ Door Knob Pull. 

“ Gas Lighting. 

Fixtures, Directions for Wiring. 

Floor Push. 

Gas Lighting Circuits. 

Gong, Bunnell Double Action. 

“ Holtzer-Cabot Iron Case. 

“ Star Electro Mechanical. 

Gravity Batteries. 

Ground, How to Detect a. 

Hints for Running Wires Out of Sight. 

Holtzer Automatic Burner... 

Improved Nickel Plated Floor Push. 

Law Battery. 

Leclanche Battery. 

Lighting, Electric Gas. 

Mechanical Gongs. 

New Era Burner. 

New York Carbon Cylinder Battery. v . 

Pendent Burner. 

Pull, Electric Door Knob. 

Push, Floor. 

Preface. 

Rachet Burner. 

Running Wires in Damp Places. 

“ “ Out of Sight. 

Samson Battery. 

Simple Electric Battery. 

Springs, Window. 

“ Door. 

Standard Dry Battery. 

Star Mechanical Gong. 

Thumb Cock Burner. 

Tools and Material Necessary for Wiring a House 

Victor Wooden Box Bell... 

Voltaic Cell... 

Window Springs. 

Wires, Hints for Running Out of Sight. 

“ Running in Damp Places. 

Wiring, Bell, Diagrams for. 

“ a House for Electric Gas Lighting. 

“ for Automatic Burners... 

“ “ Pendent Burners. 

“ Fixtures.. *. 

“ Tools and Materials Necessary for. 


. 33-34 

. 31 

. 32-33 

. 19-21 

. 7-21 

. 22-29 

.. 22-44 

. 32-33 

. 45-62 

...... 60-61 

....... 31 

... 52, 54-56 

. 28-29 

.. 26-27 

. 24-26 

.. 16-18 

. 46 

. 57-59 

. 51.52 

. 31 

. 12-14 

_ 10-12 

. 45-62 

24-26, 28, 29 

. 50 

. 18-19 

. 49-50 

. 32-33 

. 31 

. 3 

. 47-48 

. 56-57 

. 57-59 

. 14-16 

. 7-9 

. 33-34 

. 33-34 

. 19-20 

. 24-26 

. 48-49 

. 61-62 

. 27-28 

. 7-9 

. 33-34 

. 57-59 

. 56-57 

22, 23, 35-42 

. 54-56 

52 

. 52 

. 60-61 

. 61-62 


I 
























































* 













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-OF- 

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